Looking for paradise to retire

[biku324]

If you can tolerate a real change of scenery, the Philippines are just wonderful - beautiful, low-priced beaches, American stuff in most places, wonderful people. Medical care is US quality at 10% of the cost.

Typhoons suck.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

Do NOT come to Florida . Between homeowners insurance and the politics , the state has turned in to a wasteland . This is coming from someone born here , 65 years ago . I've seen the good and bad over the years ,and there's not much good these days .

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I thought I had found paradise about 50 years ago, and we invested our lives together in Colorado working for the future.

Now the future is here and I don't want to live here anymore.

I want to move back to America, but no one seems to know where that is these days. Please let me know if you hear any rumors.

 

[locolobo56]

Not many places that check all the boxes. Lifetime Texan here. Moved from N.E Tx to S.E Tx 49 yrs. ago for a job. Wouldn't go back north come he!! or high water. I Hate Cold!. That said. the past 2 winters have been the coldest of my time here. Down in the low teens. And the past 2 summers have been the hottest in the same time span Then there are the droughts in the same time period and the hurricanes. 4 have hit this area since I've been here. None have done much damage. Now that I've said all that. It could get worse on every side, or better. No one knows what the weather, politics or God has in store for us. It's all a **** shoot.

 

[Harrison]

Southern Arizona would be perfect for you.

 

[LVSteve]

When my wife and I decided to relocate to AZ some asked "Why not Florida?"

Easy answer...FL has humidity...AZ doesn't. FL has hurricanes...AZ doesn't (but does have the occasional dust storm and summer heat...but low humidity).

Lots of plus and minuses to any potential locations...political climate...tax policies...weather...lots to consider. It's actually not a bad problem to have.

AZ and NV are similar in that there is a huge difference in the climate between the north and south of the state. That said, my wife used to live in Mesa, and she says the heat in Vegas isn't even close.

The biggest thing to consider as you get older is ready access to medical care. Finding yourself in the "perfect" spot 100 miles from a proper hospital is pretty easy out West.

 

[SMSgt]

I thought I had found paradise about 50 years ago, and we invested our lives together in Colorado working for the future.

Now the future is here and I don't want to live here anymore.

I want to move back to America, but no one seems to know where that is these days. Please let me know if you hear any rumors.

House next door is for sale...

 

[Xfuzz]

EZ find...It is right next to the...

Fountain of Youth.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

have thought about that for a long time and to tell the truth, I kinda like right where I am. Every place has its' warts but I've got pretty much what I need and can travel for vacation to get some strange every now and then.
Places that are nice but would get old.
Key West
The Carribbean.
Texas( actually Texas, specifically the Clearlake area or along the gulf coast down to Corpus would be high on the list).
Dallas is absolutely out of the question-can't change my mind on this one/
Pensacola.
Alaska.
Hancock County in Mississippi(south of I-100or Mandeville/Madisonville Louisiana are probably as close as I would come to a move in.

 

[URIT]

I use to do retirement counseling, and would encourage my clients to read books by John Howells. He's written many more books since then. I read Where To Retire, Retire in Mexico, and Retire in Costa Rica.

My wife and I opted for Costa Rica. We spent ten years living there after three exploratory trip of 17 days, 17 days, and 4 months before agreeing to sell our home. We agreed to move down for at least two years before committing to staying until we neared 65 years old. We stayed.

You don't mention how deep your pockets are to support your move, so it's difficult to give good advice. Also, how tied are you to your current community and family or friends. We'd travel back to the USA for one month every six months.

We moved to the greater Phoenix AZ area when we moved back to the US, and later to coastal NC after my wife developed chronic dry eye syndrome.

You can go to a bookstore and read Howells' books; then, go on line and do additional research before actually spending $$$ to vacation/explore your options.

I miss being able to make a 2.5 hours drive from our rented house in Escazu to south beach Jaco to boogie board or south of Uvita to body surf in the Pacific. Or, drive 5.5 hours to the Caribbean and enjoy the golden sands of Punta Uva.

My daughter lives in Emerald Isle, NC and walks on the Atlantic beach most mornings. There will be climate issues no matter where you decide to live.

I left my guns behind when I moved to Costa Rica. You, a Gringo, do not want to spend 6+ months in prison waiting to go to trial on a weapons charge -- so no 2A.

You don't need to stay in one place all year long. Planning retirement options together with your wife can be an adventure - ENJOY!

 

[pharmer]

I've been in Florida 44 years. Population has gone from around 8 million to over 22 million. Not much road building, all "Cap-ex" and no tax revenue. Any place big enough to have a hospital has traffic gridlock 6:30-9:30 am and 2-6:30 pm. I'm dying here, love the place, the politics and quite a few of the people. I let the "dung beetles" roll their ball as long as they don't ask me to join. Joe

 

[ACORN]

For those of us not familiar with the region, where is the T of Pennsylvania?

Here ya go.

The "T" - JIM HAMILL.

 

[brendonjames65]

Well both you and the wife will have to make weather concessions wherever you decide to move to. There is no perfect place but I believe it's what you make of it that matters most. Only the both of you can decide what will be acceptable and nobody else. With the right mindset and positivity, you can find paradise in many places!

 

[bluetopper]

Rural northeast Texas 100 miles northeast of Dallas suites me to a tee. Been here since 1996. Usually ten degrees cooler than Dallas anytime of the year and not real humid. Two or three light snows a year, just right.

 

[Golddollar]

I left my guns behind when I moved to Costa Rica. You, a Gringo, do not want to spend 6+ months in prison waiting to go to trial on a weapons charge -- so no 2A.

Since this is a forum of gun owners, I'm a little surprised that there isn't more discussion about gun ownership (or the lack thereof) in foreign countries. If I wouldn't want to move to Maryland, New York or New Jersey why would I want to move to a foreign country that basically outlaws gun ownership?

 

[Nevada Ed]

Alaska !!

Two mosquitoes up there, are big enough to carry you off into the woods
and have you for their meal, in the spring time.

Plus you not only have brown, black and Grizz bears to worry about but
there is also the "White Death" Polar Bear , that want a meal all year long !!

 

[biku324]

Since this is a forum of gun owners, I'm a little surprised that there isn't more discussion about gun ownership (or the lack thereof) in foreign countries. If I wouldn't want to move to Maryland, New York or New Jersey why would I want to move to a foreign country that basically outlaws gun ownership?

Rational folks can own guns in the Philippines. It's a little hassle, but not a big problem.

 

[LVSteve]

Rural northeast Texas 100 miles northeast of Dallas suites me to a tee. Been here since 1996. Usually ten degrees cooler than Dallas anytime of the year and not real humid. Two or three light snows a year, just right.

How you doing for tornadoes?

 

[Beemerguy53]

Since this is a forum of gun owners, I'm a little surprised that there isn't more discussion about gun ownership (or the lack thereof) in foreign countries. If I wouldn't want to move to Maryland, New York or New Jersey why would I want to move to a foreign country that basically outlaws gun ownership?

I just got back from two weeks in Germany and Austria (with a side trip to Luxembourg). Beautiful, clean countries, with a civilized culture and a fraction of the crime we have here in the USA...

No, there is no 2A there, but citizens do own guns, subject to laws and regulation. There are shooting clubs, and target ranges, and a strong hunting tradition.

I wouldn't live there, because it's not my home, but if you can accept the tradeoffs, it would be a great place to retire...

 

[kaaskop49]

These discussions and/or actions are often torpedoed by the 'better half.' Couple of years back on this Forum, a retired poster rued that he wanted to leave the Midwest because of the harsh winters while the wife insisted on staying because she wanted to be near the children. Recently, my neighbors moved BACK to the Midwest because the wife wanted to be near the children...

I moved to the valley because the lung specialists said the hot, dry desert air would ease my suffering from emphysema. They were correct, but everything else about my health has broken down! Also because there are something like 100+ casinos in LV and I am a heavy player. However, there are negatives including 2 million people with the brain of an amoeba and recently elected representatives working to duplicate California.

Everything is a trade-off and not necessarily a fair one.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103